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Featured Breed : Great Swiss Mountain Dog

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Great Swiss Mountain Dog

Life Span:~8 to 11 years
Litter Size: 4 to 8
Country of Origin: Switzerland

Size: The Great Swiss Mountain Dog or Swissy is a large-sized, mastiff type dogs. On average, the male stands 25.5 to 28.5 inches tall and weigh 105 to 140 pounds. The female stands 23.5 to 27 inches and weighs approximately 85 to 110 pounds.

Coat: They have a dense topcoat, about one to two inches in length, and thick undercoat. They shed at least twice a year. The color is distinct, with a black topcoat and rust and white markings on the face and body. Brush the coat at least once a week, and bathe them only when necessary.

Character: The Swissy is very alert, making them an excellent watchdog. But they are not that aggressive enough to be a guard dog. They are very courageous and will bark at the sign of intruders and odd noises.

Appearance: The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is a striking, tri-colored, large, powerful, confident dog of sturdy appearance. The Swissy is a heavy boned and well muscled dog which, in spite of its size and weight, is agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties of the mountainous regions of its origin.

History: Stating the obvious, the Great Swiss Mountain originated in Switzerland and is considered to be the earliest descendants of the large mastiff-type dog introduced by the ancient Romans. They were developed in the remote areas of Switzerland for general farm use such as herding, guarding, and an all-in-one dog. It???s the largest among all four Sennenhund breeds and the oldest. The specifics of the breed???s history is unknown, they were instrumental in the early development of both the Saint Bernard and the Rottweiler. At one point in time, it was assumed that the Swissy had almost died out by the latest 19th century since their worked was replaced with machines. It wasn???t until 1908 that a canine researcher named Albert Heim spotted two dogs at a Swiss Kennel Club listed as ???short-haired Bernese Mountain Dog.??? He recognized the dogs as being large members of the Sennenhund type, a family of four breeds that includes the Swissy. He successfully lobbied to get the dogs recognized as a separate in 1909. In 1968, the first Swissy was imported to the US. The American Kennel Club officially recognize the breed in 1995 as a member of the Working Group 27 years after the first Great Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America was formed with the intent of obtaining AKC recognition back in 1968.

Health Issues: Heaver dogs such as the Great Swiss Mountain Dog tend to have shorter life spans than medium- and small-sized dogs. The longevity is inversely related to breed size. The average lifespan of the Swissy is 8 to 11 years. Although they are generally a healthy breed, they do suffer conditions like every other dog, including urinary incontinence, eyelash issues, lick fit, epilepsy, abdominal health issues, and dysplasias among others.

Temperament: The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is bold, faithful, willing worker, alert and vigilant. They can be extremely shy or extremely aggressive. If they exhibit these, they can be trained to reduce these traits. 0

Care: Since they are a large, working dog that needs room to roam, they are typically not suited for apartment or condo type accommodations. But as long as they get their daily exercise regiment and they are able to stretch their legs in a safe area outside the apartment or condo, then it should be no problem. The Swissy is also prone to overheating. Keep them inside in an air condition or in front of fans when the weather is hot. Don???t let them exercise while weather is hot or humid. Wait for the weather to cool down.

Training: The Great Swiss Mountain Dog is bred to work, let them have the Obedience training at an early age to give them the mental stimulation they need. It is also essential that they learn this as soon as possible since this is a very large dog. They are very intelligent and do well in many sports. When proper and appropriate training methods are applied, the Swissy is very eager to please.

Activity: Although they the Swissy does not generally need much exercise, they should still perform strenuous activities to lower their energy such as daily long walks.
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